Medium processing apparatus and controlling method of the same

ABSTRACT

A receiver configured to receive a first command that contains a predetermined code string and a second command that does not contain the predetermined code string from a host computer. A first command analyzer configured to analyze and process only the first command received by the receiver. A buffer configured to temporarily store at least the second command received by the receiver. A second command analyzer configured to analyze and process the second command stored by the buffer. A sound generator configured to generate a sound when the first command analyzer analyzes the first command and determines that the first command includes a sound generating command. The first command analyzer analyzes the first command before the buffer temporarily stores the second command.

Priority is claimed to Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-186103 filedJul. 17, 2007, the disclosure of which, including the specification,drawings and claims, are incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a medium processing apparatus and acontrolling method of the same.

In a peripheral apparatus that performs a predetermined printing processby analyzing data received from a host computer, a function forgenerating a sound in accordance with a status of the peripheralapparatus has already been disclosed. For example, Patent Document 1(Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-172032A) discloses a technique fordetermining a printing status of a printer by notifying a printer statusor a change of the printer status using a sound.

The printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 determines whether to notifya status using a sound when the status of satisfying a determinationcondition occurs in the printer. The determination condition isselectively designated by a command from a manual operation panel or ahost computer. In addition, effectiveness of notification carried out bya buzzer is set in advance in accordance with the determinationcondition. For example, when the printer enters an offline state inaccordance with the command from the host computer, a buzzer sound isconfigured so as to be generated. In this case, when the printer entersthe offline state, it is determined whether a function for generating anoffline sound is effective. If the offline sound is effective, apredetermined buzzer sound rings. That is, the printer can recognize itsstate and can generates a buzzer sound in accordance with the stateunder a predetermined set condition.

Recently, in order to improve effectiveness of check processing, aprocess of electromagnetically reading checks has started to beattempted. For example, the process of electromagnetically readingchecks has started to be attempted at banks. Accordingly, a small checkprocessing apparatus that can be installed at a bank has been suggested.

In the check processing apparatus, a magnetic ink reading device and ascanner are provided in a check transporting passage. When a bank staffreceives checks from a client and allows the checks to be passed in thecheck processing apparatus, the check processing apparatus performs areading process that reads magnetic ink characters or images on each ofthe checks, and endorses the checks. Information read from the magneticink characters or the images is transmitted to a host computer. The hostcomputer receives the information and checks whether the informationread from the magnetic ink characters or the images are correctly read.Then, the host computer transmits a command notifying a next process tothe check processing apparatus in accordance with the check result (seePatent Document 2, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-149013A).

In this way, in the check processing apparatus, the process of readingdata is performed in accordance with a reading command transmitted fromthe host computer and the read information is transmitted to the hostcomputer. Basically, the check processing apparatus only performs aprocess in accordance with a command of the host computer, and the hostcomputer performs an authentication process or the like that is neededfor a high speed processing capability. With such a configuration, ahigh speed reading process performed by the check processing apparatusis designed.

It is considered that the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 canbe employed in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 in order togenerate a buzzer sound in accordance with a reading result of the checkreading process. For example, when a buzzer sound rings in a case wherethe reading process fails, an operator hears the buzzer sound and canrecognize that the reading process has failed.

However, the stand-alone check processing apparatus disclosed in PatentDocument 2 cannot generate the buzzer sound in accordance with anauthentication result since check processing apparatus does notauthenticate the read information. That is, the check processingapparatus cannot generate the buzzer sound as long as the checkprocessing apparatus does not receive a command for generating a buzzersound notifying the performance of a process in accordance with theauthentication result.

When the command for generating the buzzer sound is separately generatedin this way, the check processing apparatus can generate the buzzersound in any state.

Generally, the command transmitted from the host computer is received byan apparatus in an online state, and the apparatus receiving the commandanalyzes the command to perform a process in accordance with theanalysis result. Conversely, the apparatus cannot perform a process inan offline state in accordance with the command since the apparatuscannot analyze the command in the offline state. Moreover, when a largeamount of data has been accumulated in a receiving buffer, even anapparatus in an online state may not be able to generate the buzzersound in real time in some cases since a priority command such as onethat generates a buzzer sound has to be sequentially analyzed andexecuted in a normal order.

The “offline state” refers to a state where data or command istransmitted from a host computer and received in the receiving buffer,but the received data or command is not analyzed and no process isperformed. For example, the apparatus enters an offline state when asheet jam error occurs or a sheet passage cover is opened.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of at least one embodiment of the invention toprovide an apparatus which is connected to a host computer tocommunicate therewith and is capable of preferentially generating asound in accordance with a command from the host computer regardless ofwhether the apparatus is in an online state or an offline state.

According to an aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, afirst command (specific command) that contains a predetermined codestring is analyzed and processed by a first command analyzer beforebeing stored in a buffer. On the other hand, a second command (normalcommand) which does not contain the predetermined code string isanalyzed and processed by a second command analyzer after being storedin the buffer. Generally, since a command analyzer processes commandsand data in an order of receiving the commands and the data, the commandanalyzer does not preferentially execute a predetermined command. In theaspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, since the firstcommand is executed before being stored in the buffer, the first commandcan be executed in preference to the second command. That is, the firstcommand analyzer executes the first command regardless whether a mediumprocessing apparatus is in an online state or in an offline state.Accordingly, when the first command is a sound generating command, asound is generated in preference to the other processes.

According to an aspect of at least one embodiment of the invention, thefirst command is generated in the host computer in accordance withstatus information which is generated by a status information generator.After a sound has been generated in response to the sound generatingcommand, if a status of the medium processing apparatus is changed, thestatus information is again generated and is transmitted to the hostcomputer. Then, the host computer again generates the sound generatingcommand and transmits it to the medium processing apparatus. As aresult, it is possible to generate the sound repeatedly regardless ofwhether the medium processing apparatus is in the online state or in theoffline state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodimentsthereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a sheet transporting passageof the medium processing apparatus which constitutes the mediumprocessing system according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the process in themedium processing system; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a process of generating a buzzersound.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings. In addition, in this embodiment of theinvention, as an example of an information reading apparatus, a mediumprocessing system constituted by a host computer and a medium processingapparatus for performing a reading process in accordance with aninstruction of the host computer will be described.

(Mechanical Configuration of Medium Processing Apparatus)

As shown in FIG. 1, the medium processing apparatus 1 according to theinvention is configured so as to read images on both sides of a singlesheet of medium and magnetic ink characters on the single sheet ofmedium while transporting the single sheet of transported medium such asa check in an ASF (Auto Sheet Feeder) 3 that functions as a feeding unitalong a sheet transporting passage 2 formed in a case.

The sheet transporting passage 2 for transporting a check S is formed ina substantially U shape. A portion corresponding to the bottom portionof the U shape is configured as an intermediate transport passage M.Various reading devices are provided along the intermediate transportpassage M. The sheet transporting passage 2 is constituted by atransport portion 2 c partitioned between an outer guide 2 a and aninner guide 2 b, and the check S is transported along the transportportion 2C.

The ASF 3 for loading the a plurality of checksis provided on theupstream side of the sheet transporting passage 2. The plurality ofchecks are inserted into the sheet transporting passage 2 through theASF 3 in a direction indicated by arrow A. The plurality of checksloaded in the ASF 3 are separated one by one to be transported into thesheet transporting passage 2.

Along the sheet transporting passage 2, as transport units fortransporting the check S, a sheet transport roller 6 is provided on theupstream side of the intermediate transport passage M, an intermediatetransport roller 16 is provided in the intermediate transport passage M,a second transport roller 7 is provided on the downstream side of theintermediate transport passage M, and a discharging roller 8 is providedin front of a discharging port 4. The sheet transport roller 6 includesa driving roller 6 a and a pressing roller 6 b disposed so as to facethe driving roller 6 a through the sheet transporting passage 2. Thesecond transport roller 7 includes a driving roller 7 a and a pressingroller 7 b disposed so as to face the driving roller 7 a through thesheet transporting passage 2. The intermediate transport roller 16includes a lower pressing roller 16 a disposed below the sheettransporting passage 2, an upper pressing roller 16 b disposed above thelower pressing roller 16 a, and a driving roller 17 disposed so as toface the upper pressing roller 16 a and the lower pressing roller 16 bthrough the intermediate transport passage M.

The check S loaded from the ASF 3 to the sheet transporting passage 2 istransported along the intermediate transport passage M by the sheettransport roller 6, the intermediate transport roller 16, and the secondtransport roller 7 to be discharged from the discharging port 4 in adirection indicated by arrow B by the discharging roller 8.

Along the intermediate transport passage M, an image reading device 11and a second image reading device 12 for reading images on a sheet aredisposed in a transport direction on both sides of the intermediatetransport passage M while being deviated from each other. The sheetimage reading device 11 and the second sheet image reading device 12 areCIS (Contact Image Sensor) type scanners. For each sheet, the imagereading device 11 and the second image reading device 12 for a sheetirradiate light on one surface of the check S transported along theintermediate transport passage M, receive the reflected light through aplurality of light-receiving elements (photoelectric conversionelements), and convert the received light into an electric signal toacquire one line of image. In this embodiment, the image reading device11 reads images on the rear surface of the check S one line by one lineand the second image reading device 12 reads images on the surface ofthe check S one line by one line to acquire two-dimensional images ofthe check S.

An MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Reader) 13 for reading magnetic inkcharacters is disposed below the driving roller 17. The MICR 13 is asensor for reading magnetic ink characters printed on the surface of thecheck S. The MICR 13 performs the reading in a state where the check Sis pressed against the surface of the MICR 13 by a pressing leverdisposed so as to face the MICR 13 through the intermediate transportpassage M. In this case, a magnetic ink character area of the check Swhere information such as an account number or the like is printed inthe form of magnetic ink characters is read.

<Process in Medium Processing System>

Next, a process in the medium processing system will be described withreference to FIG. 2. A medium processing system 100 is constituted by ahost computer 30 and a medium processing apparatus 20.

(Process in Host Computer)

The host computer 30 mainly includes a command generating unit 32, areading information determiner 33, and a transceiver 34.

The command generating unit 32 generates commands for allowing themedium processing apparatus 20 to perform various operations.Specifically, examples of the commands may include a transportingcommand for driving the transport rollers to transport the check S alongthe transport passage, a reading command for allowing the image readingdevices 11 and 12 to perform an image reading process, or a readingcommand for allowing the MICR 13 to perform a process of readingmagnetic ink characters. In addition, the command generating unit 32generates a sound generating command for ringing a buzzer (not shown)included in the medium processing apparatus 20.

The reading information determiner 33 performs a process of recognizingread information read by the medium processing apparatus 20.Specifically, the reading information determiner 33 performs a processof making a right or wrong determination (for example, CAR/LAR (CourtesyAmount Recognition/Legal Amount Recognition), IQA (Image QualityAssurance), etc.) for image data read by the image reading devices 11and 12, an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) process, and an MICR(Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) process.

The transceiver 34 is an interface for transmitting and receiving datato and from the medium processing apparatus 20. The transceiver 34transmits the various commands generated by the command generating unit32 or receives the read information from the medium processing apparatus20.

In this embodiment, the command generating unit 32 can generate a soundgenerating command in accordance with status information transmittedfrom the medium processing apparatus 20 or in accordance with thedetermination result of the reading information determiner 33. Forexample, the command generating unit 32 generates a sound generatingcommand for ringing the buzzer in order to notifying an operator thatthe reading process has fails when the reading information determiner 33has determined that the image data cannot be normally read.

When status information notifying the openness of a transport unit coveris transmitted from the medium processing apparatus 20, the commandgenerating unit 32 generates a sound generating command for ringing thebuzzer on the basis of status information in order to notify theoperator that the transport unit cover is in an open state. In addition,when the transport unit cover is opened, an online state of the mediumprocessing apparatus 20 is changed into an offline state.

Here, the “status information” refers to information for notifying astate of the medium processing apparatus 20 to the host computer. Forexample, if sheet jamming occurs, status information for notifying theoccurrence of the sheet jamming is created. If it is detected that atransport passage cover (not shown) for covering the transport portion 2c is opened, status information for notifying the cover openness iscreated. If the check S is loaded on the ASF 3 and it is detected thatthe check S has been loaded, status information for noting the loadingof the check S is created.

(Process in Medium Processing Apparatus)

The medium processing apparatus 20 generally includes a receiving unit21, a specific command analyzing unit 22, a receiving buffer 23, acommand analyzing unit 24, a sound generating unit 25, a status managingunit 26, a transport control unit 27, a reading control unit 28, astatus information generating unit 29, and a transmitting unit 40.

The receiving unit 21 is an interface which receives data transmittedfrom the host computer 30. When the date received by the receiving unit21 is a specific command, the specific command analyzing unit 22analyzes and processes the data. Alternatively, when the received datais not the specific command, that is, when the received data is a normalcommand, the data is stored temporarily in the receiving buffer 23. Thecommand analyzing unit 24 sequentially reads and analyzes the datastored in the receiving buffer 23, and the status managing unit 26instructs each control unit in accordance with the analysis result.

When a specific command is analyzed and performed by the specificcommand analyzing unit 22, the specific command is stored temporarily inthe receiving buffer 23 along with normal commands. However, even thoughthe command analyzing unit 24 reads the specific command from thereceiving buffer 23, the specific command is not performed by thecommand analyzing unit 24 and treated by the command analyzing unit 24as garbage data.

When the command analyzing unit 24 analyzes the data and the data is atransporting command, the status managing unit 26 instructs thetransport control unit 27 to transport the check S. In addition, whenthe received data is a reading command, the status managing unit 26instructs the reading control unit 27 to read images on the surface ofthe check S, images on the rear surface thereof, and magnetic inkcharacters thereon. The transport control unit 27 controls a transportmechanism including a motor and the like that drives driving rollers.The reading control unit 28 controls reading operations of the imagereading devices 11 and 12 and the MICR 13.

The reading control unit 28 transmits information read by the imagereading devices 11 and 12 and the MICR 13 to the host computer 30through the transmitting unit 40.

The status managing unit 26 controls the entire operations of the mediumprocessing apparatus 20. When a change occurs at each unit, the statusinformation generating unit 29 generates status information. Thegenerated status information is transmitted to the host computer 30through the transmitting unit 40.

The specific command analyzing unit 22 recognizes the specific commandand analyzes the specific command when the received data contains apredetermined code string. When the specific command is analyzed as thesound generating command, a buzzer is rung by the sound generating unit25. Alternatively, when the received data does not contain thepredetermined code string, the specific command analyzing unit 22 doesnot perform the command analysis because the command is recognized as anormal command and stores the data in the receiving buffer 23.

In contrast to the specific command, the command analyzing unit 24 foranalyzing and processing normal commands only sequentially analyzes thedata received in the receiving buffer 23. Accordingly, when a largeamount of data is received in the receiving buffer 23, it is difficultto instruct a process to be performed in real time using the normalcommand. In consideration of such a circumstance, the specific commandanalyzing unit 22 according to this embodiment analyzes and processesthe specific command before the specific command is received in thereceiving buffer 23. Accordingly, the specific command can bepreferentially processed. Moreover, the specific command analyzing unit22 can analyze and process the specific command transmitted from thehost computer 30, irrespective of the online state or the offline stateof the medium processing apparatus 20. Accordingly, it is possible topreferentially process a sound generating command, irrespective of theonline state or the offline state of the medium processing apparatus 20.

<Process of Generating Buzzer Sound>

Next, a process of generating a buzzer sound performed by the mediumprocessing apparatus 20 constituting the medium processing system 100according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Here, as a factor in which it is necessary to ring the buzzer of themedium processing apparatus 20, a case where the cover of the transportportion 2 c is opened will be described. When the cover of the transportportion 2 c is opened, the medium processing apparatus 20 enters theoffline state, and the command analyzing unit 24 does not analyze normalcommands stored in the receiving buffer 23. On the other hand, specificcommands will be analyzed and processed by the specific commandanalyzing unit 22, irrespective of the online state and the offlinestate of the medium processing apparatus 20 before the specific commandis stored in the receiving buffer 23. Accordingly, it is possible toring the buzzer in accordance with various cases, irrespective of eitherthe online state or the offline state of the medium processing apparatus20 by beforehand setting various cases where it is necessary to ring thebuzzer.

When the cover of the transport portion 2 c becomes opened (Yes in StepS11) as the case where it is necessary to ring the buzzer of the mediumprocessing apparatus 20, the status managing unit 26 detects that thecover has been opened. The status information creating unit 29 createscover-open status information indicating that the cover has been opened,in accordance with an instruction of the status managing unit 26, andtransmits the cover-open status information to the host computer throughthe transmitting unit 40 (Step S12).

The command generating unit 32 generates the specific command containingthe predetermined code string on the basis of the cover-open statusinformation, and transmits the specific command to the medium processingapparatus 20 (Step S21). At this time, the predetermined code stringrefers to a code string that can be clearly distinguished from thenormal command. For example, a code string of [DLE, DC4, fn, a, n, r,t1, t2], having an initial code (DLE) (10h in hexadecimal) that isdifferent from the code string of the normal command can be taken intoconsideration.

When the receiving unit 21 of the medium processing apparatus 20receives the specific command, the specific command analyzing unit 22analyzes the specific command. The specific command analyzing unit 22determines that the received command is a specific command when readingthe initial code (DLE). In addition, the specific command analyzing unit22 determines from parameters contained in the specific command whetherthe specific command is the sound generating command (Step S13).

The parameters contained in the specific command can be set as follows:

a: type of a buzzer sound, n: volume of a buzzer sound, r: number ofbuzzer sound's ringing, t1: time when a buzzer sound rings [t1×100 ms],and t2: time when a buzzer sound stops [t2×100 ms].

The ringing pattern of the buzzer sound can be set on the basis of theparameters. Accordingly, it is possible to change the ringing pattern inaccordance with the type of status information.

When the specific command is analyzed as a sound generating command (Yesin Step S13), the sound generating unit 25 rings the buzzer of themedium processing apparatus 20 (Step S14). When the status managing unit26 detects that the status has been changed after a buzzer sounddesignated by the sound generating command is rung (Yes in Step S15),the process is returned to Step S11 and it is determined whether afactor by which the buzzer is rung has occurred.

Here the status has been changed in Step S15 refers to a case when anoperator has heard the buzzer sound, notices the cover being open, andputs the cover back on, a case when the operator who has not heard thebuzzer sound inserts the check S into the ASF 3 with the cover beingopen, or the like.

When the operator who has heard the buzzer sound notices the cover beingopen and puts the cover back on, the medium processing apparatus entersthe online state (No in Step S11) to perform a normal process.

Alternatively, when the operator who has not heard the buzzer soundinserts the check S into the ASF 3, with the cover being open, themedium processing apparatus 20 remains in the offline state.Accordingly, since the normal command cannot be analyzed (Yes in Step11), the status information is transmitted back to the host computer(Step S12).

The above-described steps can be repeated to ring the buzzer severaltimes until the cover of the transport cover is closed.

In this embodiment, as described above, when the medium processingapparatus enters a state where it is necessary to ring the buzzer, thecommand generating unit 32 generates a specific command (a soundgenerating command) containing the predetermined code (DLE) inaccordance with the status information transmitted from the mediumprocessing apparatus 20. On the side of the medium processing apparatus20, when the specific command analyzing unit 22 recognizes thepredetermined code (DLE) transmitted from the host computer as the soundgenerating command, the sound generating unit 25 preferentially ringsthe buzzer.

As a result, it is possible to preferentially ring the buzzer inresponse to the sound generating command transmitted from the hostcomputer 30, irrespective of either the online state or the offlinestate of the medium processing apparatus 20.

The ringing pattern of the buzzer sound may be modified in variousforms. When the ringing pattern of the buzzer is set in accordance withthe type of the status information, the buzzer can be rung in anystatus. Accordingly, it is possible to notify the operator of the stateof the medium processing apparatus 20.

1. A medium processing apparatus configured to perform processes on amedium in response to commands from a host computer, the mediumprocessing apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive afirst command that contains a predetermined code string and a secondcommand that does not contain the predetermined code string from thehost computer; a first command analyzer configured to analyze andprocess only the first command received by the receiver; a bufferconfigured to temporarily store at least the second command received bythe receiver; a second command analyzer configured to analyze andprocess the second command stored by the buffer; and a sound generatorconfigured to generate a sound when the first command analyzer analyzesthe first command and determines that the first command is a soundgenerating command, wherein the first command analyzer analyzes thefirst command before the buffer temporarily stores the second command.2. The medium processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising a status information generator configured to generate statusinformation to be transmitted to the host computer, wherein the firstcommand analyzer analyzes the first command which is transmitted fromthe host computer in accordance with the status information generated bythe status information generator.
 3. The medium processing apparatus asset forth in claim 1, wherein the first command is a real-time commandwhich is effective even when the medium processing apparatus is in anoffline state.
 4. The medium processing apparatus as set forth in claim1, wherein the medium processing apparatus has a transport passage andperform transport process in which the medium is transported along thetransport passage.
 5. The medium processing apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the buffer temporarily stores both the first commandand the second command that is analyzed and processed by the firstcommand analyzer; and wherein the second command analyzer does neitheranalyze nor process the first command stored by the buffer.
 6. Acontrolling method of a medium processing apparatus that is configuredto perform processes on a medium in response to commands from a hostcomputer, the controlling method comprising: generating statusinformation; transmitting the generated status information to the hostcomputer; receiving a specific command containing a predeterminedcommand string in accordance with the status information; analyzing thereceived specific command to determine whether the specific command is asound generating command; and generating a sound when it is determinedthat the specific command is the sound generating command.
 7. Acontrolling method of a medium processing apparatus that includes atransport passage along which a medium is transported and an informationreader configured to read information on the medium, and whichtransports the medium along the transport passage in response to acommand from a host computer and reads the information by theinformation reader, the method comprising: transmitting a read result ofthe information reader from the medium processing apparatus to the hostcomputer; transmitting a real-time sound generating command from thehost computer to the medium processing apparatus when the host computerdetermines that the read result is abnormal; generating a sound inpreference to commands other than the real-time sound generating commandwhen the medium processing apparatus receives the real-time soundgenerating command.
 8. A controlling method of a medium processingapparatus that includes a transport passage along which a medium istransported and an information reader configured to read information onthe medium, and which transports the medium along the transport passagein response to a command from a host computer and reads the informationby the information reader, the method comprising: transmitting a readresult of the information reader from the medium processing apparatus tothe host computer; transmitting a real-time sound generating commandfrom the host computer to the medium processing apparatus when the hostcomputer determines that the read result is abnormal; generating a soundwhen the medium processing apparatus receives the real-time soundgenerating command even if the medium processing apparatus is in anoffline state.
 9. A controlling method of a medium processing apparatusthat is configured to perform processes on a medium in response tocommands from a host computer, the controlling method comprising:generating status information; transmitting the generated statusinformation to the host computer; receiving a specific commandcontaining a predetermined command string in accordance with the statusinformation; analyzing the received specific command to determinewhether the specific command is a notification generating command; andgenerating an user notification when it is determined that the specificcommand is the notification generating command.